CMF Watch Pro 3 Review: All the Essentials, None of the Fluff
I was recently browsing Amazon for smartwatch deals when I stumbled across the CMF Watch Pro 3 for just $79. I admit that I didn't know much about this watch going in. The more I looked into it, the more I realized it might be exactly what I needed.
I don't need a watch with every app under the sun. My requirements are simple. I need basic health tracking for heart rate and sleep, reliable notifications on my wrist and excellent battery life. I would gladly trade access to thousands of apps for a battery that lasts a week instead of a day.
So I ordered it. After spending some time with it, here is what I found.
First Impressions and Design
Out of the box, I was impressed. The watch looks nicer than I expected for the price. I was worried the "CMF by Nothing" text on the front would be distracting, but it is barely noticeable unless the light hits it just right.
The screen looks great and the build quality feels premium. However, I did run into one major issue with the display. I wear prescription polarized sunglasses when I am outside. Unfortunately, the polarization layer on this screen conflicts with my glasses. The screen is completely invisible unless I tilt my head sideways. If you wear polarized glasses, this is a definite bummer.
I also noticed a very minor scratch on the screen already. You might want to grab a screen protector for this one since the glass may not be the toughest Gorilla Glass out there.
Software and Performance
The operating system is a lightweight RTOS rather than something heavy like Wear OS. This means the interface is incredibly smooth and snappy. The animations are fluid and the attention to detail in the software is impressive. Navigating is straightforward. You swipe down for quick settings, up for notifications and left or right for widgets. I did experience a few missed swipes where the screen didn't register my touch immediately, but it wasn't a dealbreaker.
The companion app (Nothing X) is also well-designed. You can customize your widgets, change settings and manage watch faces.
The Notification Problem
This is probably my biggest annoyance. Notifications sync from your phone to the watch just fine. The problem is that it is a one-way street.
If I dismiss a notification on my watch, it stays on my phone. If I deal with an email on my phone, the notification remains on my watch until I manually clear it. This leads to a backlog of old notifications on my wrist that I have to clear out periodically.
Standout Features
Despite the notification issue, there are some really cool features tucked away in here:
Voice Recording: You can record voice notes directly on the watch. It syncs to your phone and even generates a transcript. This is great for capturing quick ideas.
Gestures: You can set up gestures like shaking your wrist or rotating it to trigger actions. I set a wrist rotation to jump straight to my notifications.
Gemini Workaround: I set the crown shortcut to double-click for the voice assistant. When I tap the microphone icon, it triggers Gemini on my phone. It isn't running natively on the watch, but it works perfectly as a remote trigger.
Device Switching: I tested moving the watch from my Z Fold to my Pixel 9 Pro Fold. I simply turned off Bluetooth on the old phone and the watch immediately connected to the new one without needing a factory reset. This is a massive win if you switch phones often.
Battery and Health
Battery life is exactly what I wanted. After three days of use, I was still at 61%. I am easily on track to get a full week of battery life on a single charge. That includes tracking my heart rate, stress and daily walks. Sleep tracking also feels accurate for me. It was definitely better than my experience with Amazfit watches, which often felt like a waste of time because of how inaccurate they are. The vibration motor is also much better here. It provides a nice tactile feel rather than a loud, cheap buzz you often see on watches in this price range.
Final Verdict
Overall, the CMF Watch Pro 3 is a really solid device. If you can get it for under $100, it is a steal.
It does everything I actually need. It handles media controls, health tracking and notifications while lasting a week on a charge. The software feels polished and free of the "jank" you often see on cheap smartwatches. In fact, using this watch actually makes me want to try a Nothing phone because the software experience is so good.
There are downsides like the notification management and the polarization issue, but for the price, I think CMF has done a fantastic job.
You can grab the CMF Watch Pro 3 here and help support me by using this link: https://amzn.to/487EYHQ